Container for scented products and business method for retailing scented products

ABSTRACT

A closure for containers in which scented products are housed, and a business method for using such containers in the retail promotion of scented products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to containers in which scented products are sold.

2. Background Information

Perfumes, lotions, oils, and other fragrant or scented consumer products are presented packaged in such a way that, for a prospective purchaser to determine the scent of the product, and make an initial purchasing decision, he or she must open the container.

Many, if not most, scented products are both liquid in form, and involve volatile and/or toxic materials. While the container closure (usually a “bottle cap”) provides a liquid-tight seal when secured in place, hazards and other undesirable circumstances can and do arise when a consumer opens such a container in a retail environment.

The simplest and least hazardous problem (though still a problem) relates to a customer either opening an outer container in which the actual, liquid-containing container is enclosed, thereby defacing the retail presentation of the product.

In the event that the liquid-containing vessel is safety-sealed, a customer's breaking of the seal, at least in some jurisdictions, may render the product unsellable.

Another problem is that of spillage. A customer (or a customer's child) who opens the container of a liquid-based, scented product may spill it, thereby damaging or ruining adjacent products, store fixtures, and flooring materials. Further still, such a spillage may fill a store or area with an “overdose” of the scent of the product, not to mention create the potential for a costly and legally entangling slip and fall incident. Customers who are, or who claim to be allergic to the substance, or the scented portions thereof, may even further complicate such a seemingly simple accidental circumstance.

Further still, anytime a customer removes the closure of any scented consumer product, particularly liquid or jell-based products, as well as ones based on volatile oils or alcohols, and particularly if the container of not fully re-closed, evaporation and/or dispersal of the scented contents begins, and the product may, again, become wholly or partially unsellable.

Contamination of the product is yet another potential consequence of customers' opening retail products to determine their scents.

Finally, there are those customers who are sufficiently well-intentioned as not to open at least those containers of scented products which, if opened, would somehow deface the container. In such cases, sales may be lost simply because many such customers will not purchase a product “in the blind”, based merely on any textual descriptions on the container(s).

To eliminate the many problems associated with the seemingly simple prospect of selling scented consumer products, particularly liquid or jell-based such products, it is highly desirable to provide a means by which customers can experience the scent of these products, without resorting to opening the container in which the product is carried.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for use with containers in which scented consumer products are enclosed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for use with containers in which scented consumer products are enclosed, which closure facilitates a prospective customer's sensing the scents of the contents, without accessing the vessel's contents, or breaching and protective seal thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for use with containers in which scented consumer products are enclosed, which closure inhibits consumer behavior associated with safety hazards attending improper access to, or spillage of the contents of such containers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for use with containers in which scented consumer products are enclosed, which closure inhibits consumer behavior associated with product contamination or defacement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved closure for use with containers in which scented consumer products are enclosed, which closure promotes or facilitates sales of such products, when previewing the scent of such products by a prospective customer is beneficial for so promoting or facilitating such sales.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel method for proposing for sale scented products, by providing an improved product container for such scented products which facilitates “previewing” of the product's scent, without opening the products container.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of this invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, combinations, compositions, and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In satisfaction of these and related objects, the present invention provides a novel design for a closure for a vessel or container of scented consumer products, which closure facilitates a prospective customer's previewing of the scent of a scented product.

In its envisioned, most common embodiment, the present invention is embodied as a multi-piece cap (usually configured for threaded engagement with the bottle) which cap includes a scent-bearing medium which is accessible to a prospective customer, without accessing the contents of the bottle itself.

Embodiments of the present invention will greatly alleviate, if not altogether eliminate the problems described in the Background section above. As will be apparent from a review of the detailed descriptions of the invention to follow, a prospective customer for a scented consumer product need no longer, in order to “preview” the product, open or in any way alter the container in which the product housed for sale. This, in turn, greatly reduces the chances that a prospective customer will spill, contaminate, or deface the product or its container, or create a safety hazard or undesirable environmental condition in a retail environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a product bottle with an associated embodiment of the closure of the present invention with components thereof separately shown for discussion below.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, shown engaged with a bottle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective, partially exploded view of a decorative embodiment of a closure of the present invention, shown with a reversibly actuated scent release membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an illustrated embodiment of a closure of the present invention is referenced generally by the numeral 10. A bottle 12 is exemplary of a vessel in which a scented, liquid product (scented oil, perfume, “air freshener”, “liquid potpourri”, etc.) would be housed, and in association with which closure 10 would be used.

Closure 10 includes an inner cap member 14, and scent-bearing member 16, and outer cap member 18. In the envisioned, preferred embodiment, these three members are in a secured, nested configuration, such as is shown in FIG. 2.

Inner cap member 14, when use with a threaded container, such as bottle 12, will include complimentary interior threads (not shown in the drawings) to effect a sealed closure of bottle 12.

Scent-bearing member 16 is configured of a material which can be impregnated with a measure of the contents of bottle 12, or at least with an alternative scent agent which is representative of the scent of such product. Scent-bearing member 16 may be made of a fibrous material that “wicks” the scented agent, a porous materials the voids of which are filled with a scent agent (a porous natural or synthetic stone material, for example), or a wholly or partially volatile material, the volatile portion of which slowing evaporates over time and releases a constituent scented agent.

Referring to FIG. 3, outer cap member 18 is, in the preferred embodiment, vented in such a way that scents emitted by scent-bearing member 16 may be released. As shown, the venting features of outer cap member 18 are decorative in nature. However, simply pinholes, or even the spaces existing naturally between inner cap member 14 and outer cap member 18 may be sufficient to release the scent from scent-bearing member 16 and permit the desired “preview” of the product's scent, or the scent representative thereof.

To maintain potency of scent-bearing member 16 for so long as is reasonably possible, a reversible sealing cap or label 20 is affixed atop outer cap member 18, to overlie any vent structures, until or unless it is lifted or otherwise opened for previewing the scent born by scent-bearing member.

Also as shown in FIG. 3., it is envisioned that outer cap member 18 may be fashioned in a decorative manner to enhance the attraction of the product's packaging for prospective consumers.

The business method associated with use of the present invention involves use of closure member 10, and bottle 12 (or corresponding alternatives by housing scented product in a vessel and using a closure member of the present invention to permit “previewing” of the product by prospective consumers, once the product so packaged is placed in a retail context. It should be emphasized that, while a “bottle” and “cap” have been shown as illustrative examples, and “liquids” have been described as products in association with which embodiments of the present invention will be used, variations of containers, as well as products housed therein, will be within the scope of the present invention. For example, and without limited the true scope of the present invention, a metal can containing scented crystals, and with a press-fit lid, would fall within the present invention, if, for example, the lid were fitted with a second cap, “lid” or other barrier member, and a scent-bearing member were disposed between the inner and outer lid or cap members.

By proving means by which prospective customers may “preview” the scent of a scented product, embodiments of the present invention satisfy at least all of the objects described above.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention. 

1. A closure member comprising: an inner cap member; an outer cap member, attached in nesting fashion to said inner cap member; and a scent-bearing member housed, at least in part, between said inner cap member and said outer cap member.
 2. The closure member of claim 1 wherein said outer cap member is constructed with vent means formed therein for effecting exposure of said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 3. The closure member of claim 1 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 4. The closure member of claim 2 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 5. A product container comprising: a substantially liquid impermeable vessel having an aperture with cap engagement means; an inner cap member having vessel aperture engagement means, configured for reversibly sealed engagement with said aperture of said vessel; an outer cap member, attached in nesting fashion to said inner cap member; and a scent-bearing member housed, at least in part, between said inner cap member and said outer cap member.
 6. The closure member of claim 5 wherein said outer cap member is constructed with vent means formed therein for effecting exposure of said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 7. The closure member of claim 5 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 8. The closure member of claim 6 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 9. A method for promoting scented products for sale comprising the steps of: selecting a product container comprising: a substantially liquid impermeable vessel having an aperture with cap engagement means; an inner cap member having vessel aperture engagement means, configured for reversibly sealed engagement with said aperture of said vessel; an outer cap member, attached in nesting fashion to said inner cap member; and a scent-bearing member housed, at least in part, between said inner cap member and said outer cap member; placing a scented product within said vessel; placing said container in a retail environment.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said outer cap member is constructed with vent means formed therein for effecting exposure of said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 15. The method of claim 13 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member.
 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising scent-releasing means attached to said outer cap member for reversibly exposing said scent-bearing member to an environment exterior of said closure member. 